For Immediate Release – Thanks to the generosity of Manitobans, community foundations across our province received gifts totaling more than $1.54 million during this year’s Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge. Since these gifts are endowed, Manitoba’s community foundations can provide even more support for local charitable activities, now and forever.
From Nov. 13 to 19, the 2,852 gifts made to Manitoba community foundations’ undesignated funds were stretched, increasing the amount and the impact of the gifts. Each community foundation was eligible to receive up to $4,000 in stretch funding during the Giving Challenge, thanks to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba government, that each provided a maximum stretch of $2,000 per foundation.
Community foundations provide vital funding for charitable projects and initiatives in local communities, especially during challenging times. Undesignated funds provide community foundations with the greatest flexibility in responding to their communities’ changing needs and emerging priorities, through grants to local charities. The annual Giving Challenge is coordinated by Endow Manitoba, a program of The Winnipeg Foundation.
“Manitoba is the birthplace of the Canadian community foundation movement and Manitobans are its greatest champions” says Alan Goddard, Vice-President of Capacity Building & Programs at The Winnipeg Foundation. “The Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge, the largest community foundation initiative of its kind in Canada, is a testament to our network of 57 community foundation and their collective efforts in supporting community well-being across Manitoba. The amazing year after year Giving Challenge results show that Manitoba communities are aligned with the values of their local foundation through their incredible support and generosity.”
“The Winkler Community Foundation has been participating in the Giving Challenge since it began 10 years ago now,” says Myra Peters, Executive Director at the Winkler Community Foundation. “During this time, our community has rallied behind us, and not only individual donors but with local businesses participating in a major way. This year was another success and in the decade of Giving Challenges we have raised a total of $610,615 for our community fund, achieving our goal of growing the fund to over $1 million.”
Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge 2023 highlights:
- $1,540,332 raised
- $1,344,962 total gift value
- $195,370 total stretch value
- 2,852 gifts made
- 39 community foundations received maximum stretch
Historic amounts raised during 24-Hour Giving Challenge:
- 2023 – $1,540,332
- 2022 – $1,684,042
- 2021 – $1,515,125
- 2020 – $1,254,239
- 2019 – $1,010,387
- 2018 – $1,016,667
- 2017 – $893,449
- 2016 – $497,116
- 2015 – $555,868
- 2014 – $245,428
Community foundations are charities, built by communities for communities. Gifts made to community foundations are pooled and permanently invested, and the interest earned is granted to local initiatives each year. Since the capital is never spent, your gifts support the community forever. Every year, community foundations invest millions of dollars into a wide range of local charitable projects, helping ensure our Manitoba hometowns are vibrant and thriving.
Endow Manitoba represents the network of our province’s community foundations. A program of The Winnipeg Foundation, Endow Manitoba works with the province’s 57 community foundations to increase their impact and to advance the movement.
The Winnipeg Foundation is For Good. Forever. We help people give back to our shared community by connecting generous donors with Causes they care about For Good. We are an endowment-based public foundation, so gifts are pooled and invested, and the annual earnings are distributed back to the community Forever. Formed in 1921, we are proud to be the first community foundation in Canada.
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Media inquiries/questions:
LuAnn Lovlin, CFRE
Vice President, Communications & Marketing
W: 431-444-1715 M: 204-781-9336
Email LuAnn
Download the Backgrounder: Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge 2023 Results [PDF]
